My grandson has been at Cal Farley's now for seven months and simply loves it. Adopted from child protective services after having been our foster child, he came to us with problems at 18 months of age. He's now 15. He has a wonderful heart but needs a lot of structure and channeling his many gifts in the right direction. He was thrilled to be accepted at the Boys' Ranch and his house parents are really terrific with 22 years at the ranch. With really low to teacher ratios, the schools are excellent and he says his teachers are really good. So far his experience has been wonderful and he's making real progress. He hopes to graduate high school there in a couple of years. We are so grateful. read more

We sent our daughter to Boys Ranch in August of 2024 she was released in January of 2025 due to behavior. The child we got home from boys ranch was worse then the child we sent there. These kids are all troubled and there is no accountability for there actions. I had to find my daughter a counselor to meet with each week. She never met with a psychiatrist and we asked for that several times. The house parents and case workers are all very young and can't handle these kids with behavior problems. We are now getting our daughter the help she needs in a safe environment unlike any help she received from boys ranch. I know my daughter isn't the only child that they have failed either. shame on a place that advertises to help troubled youth when in return all that happened over 6 months was my daughter getting worse. Also taking my daughter to their dentist for a check up and saying she had 8 cavities when in fact she did not and that was confirmed by her dentist at home. I will be contacting the news, our state representatives, legislators, judges, anyone from the past that has been done wrong by this place as well as their donors. read more

I was sent to Boys Ranch when I was 12 years old. If it wasn't for the caring people in my life I would not be alive today. Deep into the gang life at such an early age would have surely taken me young. I went back home to visit after about a year being away and 2 of my closest friends had lost their lives to gang violence. I consider myself successful and proud to call BR my childhood home. I could never thank them enough for saving my life. read more

I sent my son to Cal Farley's Boy Ranch in the summer to explore a different life. My son has a wonderful summer in the Boy Ranch. He learns so much and grows as a loving, tall and strong boy after the summer. Cal Farley's Boy Ranch taught my son how to appreciate, respect, obey and give out to the community! My son chances a lot after the summer. He looks life differently...he had a chance to meet there are lot of unfortunate children in the Boy Ranch who have no parents, no home! Some children has live in Cal Farley's Boy Ranch for a decade because this is his only home! My son met a boy whose dad died in the war and his mother committed suicide! The Boy has lived in Cal Farley's Boy Ranch since he was a little boy. The story made me cried... Cal Farley's Boy Ranch's kindness tough my heart! The Ranch gives the children love, security, good food, education and happiness. We love Cal Farley's Boy Ranch so much! We are going to try to donate some money to Cal Farley's Boy Ranch every month to help the unfortunate children here. Cal Farley's Boy Ranch takes care of children for free ( no charges) but the children have to be qualified to admit to the ranch. House parents in Cal Farley's Boy Ranch doesn't get paid much. They are here because they love the children and they want to help the children succeed in life! The house parents teach the boys responsible for their success and failure. They make sure the boys are safe and free from harm. The house parents only go to bed after the boys already slept. The food and medicine are always inspected very carefully before it is given to the boys. The boys are taught to respect women and adults, obey the rules at home. The boys know how to open the door for women and help to clean up after dinner. The father of the house teaches the boy how to be a gentleman! At dinner table, the women are the ones who can get the dinner first....My son has lot of respect to his house parent at Cal Farley's Boy Ranch. My son came home already 2 weeks. He is happy to be home but he is missing the sweet house parents, his good friends and especially the delicious lunch & dinner from the ranch. Cal Farley's Boy Ranch gives the kids the healthy buffet lunch everyday. The Ranch always makes sure that the kids have enough proteins ( meat or fish), milk, fruits and vegetables everyday. The house parents cook the healthy dinner for the boys every night. There are 2 big refrigerator in the house's parents that are always filled with milk, fruit juice, bread, cheese. Cal Farley Boy Ranch is not a juvenile detention facility or treatment center! So the Boy Ranch won't just take any kids. This is a place where gives the young people the love they deserve. Cal Farley Boy Ranch helps raising the orphans or children from the single parent who needs the basic needs, safety, achievement, power and adventure. Unfortunately, the boy has to meet the Ranch's requirements to get accepted by Cal Farley's Boy Ranch. The process time is 6 weeks. Your child is going to be safe and have a great life at Cal Farley Boy Ranch. The Ranch hosts its own K-12 school that is approved through the texas education agency. The Ranch also has its own museum, doctors, little hospital, big swimming pool, horses......There are about 250 boys and girls that are from 7 year old to 17 year old who live in the Ranch now. Most 16 year old and 17 year old boy/ girl came to the Boy Ranch since they were young. So they can be trained well and stayed in the Ranch until they turn 17 year old. The Boy Ranch doesn't take the boy/girl who is older than 15 year old because he/she is too old to train! My son has a happy summer in the ranch. The Boy Ranch teaches him how to ride the horse, do his own laundry, clean his room, pick up trash at community service and wash cars. My son told me that he is missing the fun time to swim and play video game with his friends in the ranch. Thank you very much Mrs. Lori Pletcher (intake specialist), Mrs. Courtney Corrales ( case worker) and the house's parent of Cal Farley's Boy Ranch for turning my son to a wonderful young man after the summer. He learns so much about life...my son now appreciates me much more than before. He knows that he is lucky to have me as his mother. Many thanks to Cal Farley's Boy Ranch for teaching my son to choose right from wrong, have more dreams than memories, more opportunities than chances, more hard work than luck and more friends than acquaintances. Thanks for watching over my son everyday to make sure that he is happy and safe. We promise to come back to visit and support the Boy Ranch when we have a chance. I recommend Cal Farley's Boy Ranch for the children from 7 year old to 15 year old who needs the basic needs in life like love, food, education and place to live. This is not a treatment center. If your child has mental issue, or emotional unstable or drug problems or criminal record, this is not the place for your child. read more

They have showed me they don't care about kids. When I called for help with my daughter they said they didn't have room but would send me a list of resources for help. Never received it. Some help they are. Will never recommend them to anyone read more

Boys Ranch...a shirt tail to hang on to. Mr. Cal Farley started Boys Ranch in 1939, as a safe haven for runaways and unwanted children. It was always a place just for boys, until finally in 1992 they decided to finally open the doors to girls. My parents were the "house parents" of the very first girls home, we basically lived in an apartment attached to the "dorm". These are actually multimillion dollar homes built, and all the money comes from rich ass old Texans who love to donate their money. Needless to say, it was a very different way to grow up, having to share your parents with a house of 17 kids. But I learned to get over that resentment, and take pride in the fact that my mom and dad saved alot of kids from taking the wrong road in life. I am giving it 4 stars for what it used to be, not for what it has become. The place has now become corporate, and the people just don't seem to care about the kids like they used to. Sure, they have given the kids a big new rec center complete with big screens, XBoxes, and PS3s, but that doesn't take away the pain of knowing your parents dropped you off somewhere because they couldn't handle you. Too many social workers, and not enough people like my parents, who give up their whole lives to help children. Anyway, I will always hold a special place in my heart for Cal Farley and the dream that he accomplished of giving children a loving home. read more